Turkey Run State Park’s Rocky Hollow Canyon Trail reopened June 22 after a six-month closure. The trail is one of the most heavily used in all of the Indiana State Parks system.

It serves as a gateway to the Rocky Hollow-Falls Canyon Nature Preserve, which contains relict populations of rare native species. The trail’s conditions are ideal for lichens, mosses, and liverworts, as well as ferns and native hemlocks.

The fragile canyon ecosystem had been threatened by lack of a clear trail tread and social trails up to the canyon walls. The new route through Rocky Hollow provides a clear path built with native creek gravel and established stone stream crossings. Rock cribbing and trail armoring with large native sandstone rocks have been added to control erosion.

Rogue social trails to the bases of the canyon walls have been blocked and replanted with native species. Signs have been installed reminding hikers to stay on the trail and protect the integrity of the canyon’s beauty. A new boardwalk has been constructed at the entrance to the canyon.

The work completed by Spectrum Trail Design, in partnership with staff from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) divisions of State Parks and Nature Preserves, required months of planning and the tricky lowering of several pieces of trail building equipment into the canyon with a crane. As much as possible, stone and other trail-building materials used were from the canyon itself or of the same geological structure.

“This project is a perfect example of finding ways to balance access to Indiana’s most beautiful and unique places, while conserving the resources that draw Hoosiers to them,” said Ginger Murphy, deputy director for stewardship for Indiana State Parks. “We are excited that these improvements have been completed, and look forward to seeing our guests experience Rocky Hollow again.”

The park staff expects hikers to use the new trail route through Rocky Hollow and to avoid the temptation to create new rogue trails. Staff will be in the canyon on busy hiking days to talk with guests about the trail and the uniqueness of the site.

“This work, in combination with appropriate trail use, will allow those relict and rare species to grow again and will keep Rocky Hollow healthy for future generations to experience,” said Turkey Run interpretive naturalist Aaron Douglass.

Funding for the project was provided by DNR’s divisions of State Parks and Nature Preserves, with the support of a generous grant from REI through the Indiana Natural Resources Foundation.

Apply for reserved hunts

Indiana hunters may now apply online for a reserved hunt at on.IN.gov/reservedhunt – the online method is the only way to apply. Applicants must possess a hunting license valid for the hunt for which they are applying.

Hunters are selected through a random computerized drawing. A link to view drawing results will be posted at the website within two weeks after application deadlines. An email will be sent to applicants when results are posted:

•Dove Hunt Draw: Application must be completed by July 29. Applicants may select desired date and property. Due to inclement spring weather, other crops may have been planted in place of or along with sunflowers. Participating Fish & Wildlife Areas (FWAs) include Atterbury, Jasper-Pulaski, Kankakee, Kingsbury, Pigeon River, Blue Grass, and Winamac.

•Waterfowl Hunt Draw: Application must be completed by Sept. 16. Participating FWAs include Goose Pond, Hovey Lake, Kankakee, Kingsbury, LaSalle, and Willow Slough. Province Pond Wetland Conservation Area and Monroe Lake will also be participating.

•Deer Hunt Draw: Application must be completed by August 26. Participating properties include Deer Creek and Fairbanks Landing FWAs, Tern Bar Slough Wildlife Diversity Conservation Area, Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), and Muscatatuck NWR.

•Military/Refuge Firearm, Primitive, and Archery Deer Hunt Draw: Application must be completed by August 26. Hunts on military/refuge properties may be canceled at any time. Properties participating include Camp Atterbury Joint Maneuver Training Center and Big Oaks and Muscatatuck NWRs.

•Youth Firearm Deer Hunt at Muscatatuck NWR: Application must be completed by August 26.

•Pheasant Hunt Draw: Application must be completed by Sept. 16. Adults should not apply for the Nov. 2 hunt, as it is reserved for youth (ages 17 and younger) only.

Only one application per hunt is allowed. No changes may be made once the application is submitted.

Volunteers needed to count turkey broods

The DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife is looking for volunteers to count wild turkeys and their offspring from July 1-August 31. Each summer, wildlife biologists and volunteers conduct brood surveys, counting the number of young wild turkeys observed with turkey hens, to estimate how many young turkeys live through the summer.

Summer brood survival is one of the primary factors influencing wild turkey population trends in various regions of the state, and informs wild turkey management.

“Turkey biologists across the country are increasing efforts to better assess summer brood production and habitat changes,” said DNR turkey biologist Steve Backs. “This will help us determine what is causing declines and ways to possibly increase turkey numbers.”

Turkey biologists can’t do it by themselves. They need help from volunteers to get an accurate count of broods in the state. The goal this summer is to collect 3,000 brood observation reports from citizens across the state, with at least 25 brood observations in each county.  To help, register as a 2019 participant at on.IN.gov/turkeybrood

Instructions for the survey and an illustrative guide on how to report observations of wild turkey broods and hens are provided on the website. The results of the previous summers’ brood survey are also available.

Wild turkeys were reintroduced to Indiana beginning in the mid-1950s, until the early 2000s. Today they are found across the state, but declines in brood production over the last decade have reduced the number of turkeys observed in some regions.

“After wild turkey restoration efforts, many states watched their turkey populations peak and then settle into lower levels during the last decade,” Backs explained. “Some states observed greater declines than others in their turkey populations. But universally, all states have observed declines in annual production or brood survival during the summer months.”

Learn to bowfish in Mt. Vernon

The “Learn to Bowfish” program will start at 6:30 p.m. on July 13 and will run until midnight July 14 (CST). There are 16 registration spaces remaining for the event, and the deadline is July 12 at noon. The cancelation deadline for the event is that day at 5 p.m.

The event is located at Sherburne Park Ramp, 151 W Water Street in Mt. Vernon, Ind. Participants will learn the tips and techniques needed in order to bowfish on their own. Learn about invasive species (e.g. Asian carp) and native species, which are common targets for bowfishing.

Learn also about bowfishing gear and techniques, and then have the opportunity to go bowfishing with Hoosier Bowfishing Assoc. members on the Ohio River. The workshop is free but pre-registration is required, at www.in.gov/activecalendar_dnr/EventRegistration.aspx?Rid=1490&Iid=52725&Frm=

Conservation officers investigate boat wreck

Indiana conservation officers are investigating a boat accident on Geist Reservoir in Marion County, in which one boat left the scene.

At 2:30 a.m. on June 22, 66-year-old Randy L. Mathis of Charlottesville was anchored and fishing south of Geist Marina. He said he saw a boat exceeding the nighttime speed limit of 10 mph coming toward him from the rear. The other boat failed give way to Mathis’ boat, and a collision occurred.

Mathis was thrown to the bottom of his boat and suffered bumps and bruises. He was taken to a local hospital by ambulance for precautionary measures. His boat sustained damage to the rear port (left) side. The boat causing the collision fled the scene. Responding officers’ efforts to locate the fleeing boat were unsuccessful.

Due to the dark conditions, investigators have been unable to obtain a good description of the other vessel. They are looking for a boat with damage toward the front, showing a black or maroon paint transfer. Anyone with information useful to the investigation should call Central Dispatch at 812-837-9536.

Boating restrictions on Indian Chain of Lakes

The DNR has placed an idle speed restriction on the Indian chain of lakes in LaGrange County due to high-water conditions. These include Dallas, Hackenberg, Messick, Westler, and Witmer lakes.

An idle speed restriction is put into effect when surface water conditions are likely to enter dwelling structures as a result of wake.

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with questions or comments may contact Jack Spaulding by email at jackspaulding@hughes.net or by writing to him in care of this publication.